Odisha’s talented blind chess player, Soundarya Kumar Pradhan, has achieved remarkable success at the 4th Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China. Soundarya Pradhan secured the team Gold and an individual Silver in the B1 category, showcasing exceptional skills and determination. Soundarya’s journey in the individual event was marked by resilience and strategic brilliance, as he finished in second place with an impressive score of 5.5 points from seven rounds. This score was achieved through five victories and one draw, an extraordinary feat given the competition’s intensity. Soundarya faced an early setback in the second round with a loss to Dinh Tuan Son of Vietnam. However, he swiftly recovered and demonstrated his exceptional skills by securing four victories and a draw in the subsequent five games.

One of the most pivotal moments of his performance came when he had to face Abdullayev, Amrillo from Uzbekistan, the top seed of the event. In a must-win situation, Soundarya, playing with black pieces, employed his preferred French defense strategy and executed a king-side pawn storm, ultimately emerging victorious. India as a team also displayed exceptional performance, securing the gold medal with a total of 11.5 points out of a possible 14. India maintained a two-point lead over the second-placed Iran, solidifying its dominance in the competition.

While the classical format had seen India out of medal contention, the rapid format brought about a dramatic turnaround. India emerged with a team gold, individual gold and silver, and a bronze medal. In addition to Soundarya’s silver, Darpan Inani from Gujarat and Ashwin Makwana, also from Gujarat, secured gold and bronze medals, further enhancing India’s performance on the global stage. Soundarya Pradhan’s remarkable achievements have made Odisha and the entire nation immensely proud, showcasing the incredible talent and dedication of this visually-impaired chess star.